Ichy

Nice looking retracts Dave. More scale looking than the CJ units I have. Also glad you are sorta still working on it. See ya in August when you restart on it.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Now that I've got the retracts, I'm looking into gear door actuation. Looks like there are three ways of doing this.

(1) Air cylinder. Is there some kind of valve open them quickly on lowinging the gear but delay their closure during the retract cycle? I'm don't like this option do to another cylinder, more air lines, more leaks, etc.

(2) Servo actuated. Is there some device that can plug into the retract channel that would open them quickly but delay closing upon gear retraction?

(3) Opened and closed by some kind of machanical connection the the retract gear.

What is the most popular method????

Thanks for any help.

Dave

UkerDuker

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Wingspar-

One way to get your gear down fast and up slow is use wheel collars on the UP air lines. Just slip one over the tube and tighten it until you get the desired effect.

I know Robart also makes a valve with air-flow adjustment valves on it. The Part # 167VR( its Red in color).

Mike

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Ukerduker...

Nice looking C-130 :-)

The retract gear speed is not a problem as the servo actuated controller can be used to adjust the retract time.

I'm just trying to find out what method is being used these days to control the gear "doors" that must open before the gear comes down and close after the gear is fully up.

Dave

UkerDuker

My Feedback: (3)

Oh, well I have a suggestion for that too.

I used a gear sequencer unit. Its very easy to program.

http://www.sitewavesstores.com/Merch...uct_Code=A2002

It allows you the flexibilty to sequence the opening/closing of the doors and the deployment and retracting of the gear.

Mike

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

I'll check into it,thanks.

Dave

wingspar

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Ready to get going again. No more traveling for awhile. My wife is "allowing" me to use the dinning room for building this plane so that should help alot come this winter. I've ordered out Hitec's 5955TG servos for the rudder and elevator. Get the rudder finished up, install the linkages and servos. Then the nose retracts and then rock and roll on the wing. Pics to follow in a few days.

Dave

Got to see "Dream Girl" in Ohio.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

All the rudder hinging is done. It was diffucult to align the rudder hinge to the control horn assembly. Alot of trial and error fitting until I could get the rudder to swing to both sides of the elevator without binding. The rudder will be pull pull using 4/40 hardware. Hopefully tomorrow I can install the rudder servo to see how it works.

Dave

Ichy

Glad to see you're back at it!

Mike Emilio

Could you possibly post a picture of your CJ retracts.

When I built my giant Invader back around 1973, retracts were not the big thing as they are today, so I only had it fitted with fixed gear. I guess it might be time for an upgrade.

Ichy

Mike, here they are. First pic is/are the mains. Second and third show the nose gear. The nose wheel sits off center so I will have to modify it to work. Not happy about that.

Mike Emilio

Thanks Ichy.

They don't look too bad. Sure good enough for me.
I'll have to order up a set and get the old beastie going again.

I've purchased from Sierra before, for gear that was already in stock. I like the work he puts out. Parts fit good, no sharp edges, good finish, smooth action.
Reading through here I'm getting the impression that Darrell might be swamped with work, so I guess I'll try another company.

This has been a rather expensive year for landing gear for me. Maybe about $3,500 in gear alone purchased or on order so far.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Mike, it's usually the custom gear that can take awhile to get. There probably a good reason Darrell is busy. Good quality custom gear built to your specks isn't available everywhere. As for me I will only use Sierra gear. The set I got for my ....gasp... ARF F6F has worked flawlessly.

Noted a bind in the rudder movement beyond 20 degrees swing. #%^%^#$%%^%%. Ripped out the actuator and realigned it. Hopefully I got it right this time.

Dave

Mike Emilio

Your very right.
I bought my Vampire nose gear from Darrell. Even though they don't work as marketed by the designer, it's still a great piece of machining by Darrell. Everything is just so smooth I always have to keep touching it when I see it.

The reason he's probably very busy I would guess is that he put's out very good workmanship!

I have a number of projects on the go so I hire builders to get things moving. That's about the only reason why I would shop for something "off-the-shelf" first.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Alittle more progress. A was going to intall the servos in the bomb bay but Knn suggested putting them in rear gunners position just aft of the wing. Looks like it should work very well. Probably overkill but i doubled up on each cable between the rudder and the servo.

Dave

Mike Emilio

Overkill is probably a very good idea. You certainly don't want to loose the rudder if one engine dies.

Looks like it's between two solid bulkheads. Will you be able to access the servo somehow for maintenance?

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Yes, all servos will have access. All control surfaces will be removable and access to all control links.

Dave

wingspar

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More progress. Nose gear framing and bears installed. Elevator servos arrived so I should be able to install them tonight. I'll be ordering out the wing tubes and balsa this week-end and should be starting wing construction by the following week.

Dave

wingspar

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Note to Darrell:

I removed the side struts. There just wasn't anyway for me to get them in with out weakining the retract mount.


Dave

wingspar

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Installed the elevator servos and pushrods. Insured that all was smooth and no bindings or hitting any obstructions. Next I will be inclosing the rear fuselage.

wingspar

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Rechecked both rudder and elevator controls and linkages. All is well so the aft fuselage was inclosed. Some more rudder work and I should be able to get it cover this week.

Dave

Ichy

Clean looking nose wheel bay! Will have to "revisit" mine! Gotta keep up with the Jones you know!

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Well I sure hope you do! Wing tubes ordered out. Will inventory balsa and order out whatever I'm missing. BTW, did you build the flaps stock or work out away to make them slotted?????? I've got an idea of what I'm going to do with them. Just hope it works.

Dave

Ichy

I have not touched mine all summer. [] I made the inboard fowler flaps slotted. I have not finished them yet but have a good start on them. I think they will end up looking much like the original. I will do something different on the outboard cause the fowler stuff takes a lot of room.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Working on the tail fillet. I'm using micro-fill built up in layers.

Dave